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Basic Rules of Etiquette


  1. If flying the flag from a building, the Union flag should be hoisted first and taken down last at the end of the day.
  2. A flag should never be allowed to drag along the ground.
  3. A tattered or faded flag should be removed and replaced.
  4. A national flag should never be flown above another National flag on the same pole. This implies superiority/inferiority.

Ranking of Flags


Flags should take the following ranking:
  1. Your own national flag
  2. Foreign visitors national flag
  3. Corporate flags or Flags bearing logos
  4. Any other flags
More than one national flag must NOT be flown from the same flagpole as this suggests that the higher has conquered the lower.

Ranking of Flagpoles


Should you have more than one pole all of the same height, the rightmost flagpole with your back to the building is the most important flagpole. If one flagpole is taller, no matter where it is positioned it becomes the most important.

Half Mast


The term 'Half Mast' does not mean half way down the flagpole.

Using a 6ft x 3ft flag as an example, the flag should be lowered by 3ft, the depth of the flag itself.

When putting up the flag it should be slowly and reverently hoisted aloft to its full extremity to the top of the staff before slowly lowering to the correct depth of the flag 'half mast' position.

Similarly, when taking down the flag it should again be hoisted to the top of the pole then reverently lowered to the ground.

Yacht Etiquette


Dressing ship is done to celebrate special days, regattas, club rallies etc. It is to be done only in harbour.

The flags used are international code flags and are strung from bow, to masthead, to stern.

They should be used in a set order so that all boats look the same and so the codes do not spell any offensive words in any language.

Dates for dressing ship

  • Accession Day
  • Coronation Day
  • HM the Queen's birthday
  • Commonwealth Day
  • HM the Queen's official birthday
  • HRH the Duke of Edinburgh's birthday
  • Marriage of member of royal family
  • Visit of royalty to port
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